Manila, Feb. 17 -- A total of 40 importers and licensed customs brokers have been charged before the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Bureau of Customs (BOC) reported Tuesday.

In a news release, the BOC reported that from July 1, 2025 to present, 14 criminal cases were filed against 40 importers and/or their representatives and licensed customs brokers for violations of Republic Act No. 10863, or the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

The cases involve unlawful importation activities, including technical smuggling, misdeclaration, and undervaluation of goods, aimed at evading the correct payment of duties and taxes.

The BOC also recorded four criminal convictions during the term of Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno, arising from ...